Applications are currently open for the Backing Small Businesses Grant Program intended for locally significant small businesses pursuing projects that enhance long-term resilience, promote sustainable growth, and strengthen their positive impact within the community. Eligible businesses can apply for one of four hundred (400) available grants of $10,000.

Following the May 2025 round of Disaster Recovery Grants, the Backing Small Businesses grant program will launch a broader round of grants, offering 400 additional $10,000 grants to locally significant small businesses facing economic challenges to help them overcome economic hardship, grow, and drive community impact. Applications will open on Wednesday, July 16 at 9:00 a.m. CT and close on Thursday, July 31 at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Please note that project proposals for the $10,000 grant application should be feasible to achieve with only the $10,000 award and completed by the end of the calendar year. Recipients of the $10,000 grant will be required to submit a final grant report using a template provided.

Of the five hundred (500) recipients selected through our 2025 Backing Small Business grant program, including the one hundred (100) recipients of the Disaster Recovery grants, a limited subset of twenty-five (25) will be awarded $30,000 Enhancement Grants to support transformative projects that strengthen their businesses and deepen their impact within their communities. To be eligible for a $30,000 Enhancement Grant, a recipient must have received the initial $10,000 grant and successfully completed their project, and must not have previously received an Enhancement Grant from the Backing Small Businesses grant program. Enhancement Grant recipients will be considered based on Enhancement Grant project proposals, which must be submitted through the final grant report for the initial $10,000 grant.

How to Proceed

In order to apply for a Backing Small Businesses grant, all applicants must first successfully complete the eligibility form and click the "Submit" button at the bottom. Upon successfully completing the eligibility questions, you will be automatically redirected to the full application form. Please read all eligibility questions carefully and double-check your answers before submitting - you will not have the opportunity to resubmit if you mistakenly submit an incorrect answer. 

T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure, creating a downtown asset or destination, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. We look forward to learning more about your town and your project. 

HOW TO APPLY

Review the eligibility and grant criteria below to ensure your community and proposed project meets application requirements. Applicants can submit their proposals by completing this application form. The grant application period will close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 11:59pm Central Time. No late applications will be accepted. Applications will be evaluated and selected by a review panel, and all applicants will be sent an award decision by late November 2025.

Grant recipients will each receive an award of up to $50,000 to implement their ideas and will have 12 months (December 1, 2025 - November 30, 2026) to complete their projects. Recipients will be required to submit a progress report at the 6-month mark following the grant disbursement, and a final report will be due at the end of the 12-month implementation period. All reports are to be completed using a template provided.
 

REVIEW CRITERIA
 

Your application will be reviewed by an internal T-Mobile review committee and non-profit partner based upon the following criteria. Please note that the letters of support for your project are an important part of this application. 

• Community need - Proposed project should fill a demonstrated need in the community. This grant funding is intended for shovel-ready projects that would not otherwise be possible to implement through municipal funding. Proposal & letters of support should demonstrate strong community support for the project. 
• Community impact - Project should connect the community in meaningful, innovative, and creative ways. 
• Partners and engagement - Strong applications actively involve local organizations by incorporating them into the planning and execution processes and engaging the community in activating the project site. Letters of support should come from a variety of stakeholders within the community. 
• Feasibility - You should have a shovel-ready plan ready to go and be able to complete your project within your detailed budget and within 12 months of receiving funding, if selected. Projects must be completed and usable by the public by November 30, 2026. Make sure to consider these parameters when choosing the kind of project you propose for this grant. 

Alignment with T-Mobile's small town strategy - T-Mobile strives to be a force for good. To read more about T-Mobile’s many corporate initiatives and key segments, visit https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility. 

ELIGIBILITY
 

Who may apply? 

• This grant program is specifically open to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and local government entities.  If selected, the grant award must be managed and deployed by the nonprofit organization or government entity who applied for the grant. 
• Grant funds may not be awarded to for-profit businesses, directly or indirectly via pass-through funding to for-profit businesses. Additionally, religious congregations are​ not eligible for this grant program. 
• Applicants must be located in small rural communities with a population of 50,000 people or less. ​​ 
• Proposals must focus on a physical project benefiting the public. 
• The applicant organization must own the site where the proposed project would be implemented OR provide a description/confirmation of adequate permissions to alter the site. If the applicant organization does not own the site, one of the letters of support must come from the owner of the site.  
• Applicants may submit up to one (1) application per organization per grant cycle. Applicants may re-apply to subsequent grant cycles if they are not selected in an earlier round. 
• Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees are eligible to apply again for later grant cycles. Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees must demonstrate successful completion of their prior grant project in their application. 

What types of grant expenses are eligible?
  Requested funding must be for a physical placemaking project.

Eligible Grant Uses: 

• Construction/​installation supplies and materials 
• Equipment 
• Labor costs for construction/​rehabilitation/​installation/​artist fees 
• Artist’s supplies and fees associated with a community engagement design process (i.e. a mural or creative crosswalk informed by facilitated community discussions) 
• Streetscape and/or indoor furniture for a community space 
• Other physical items 
• Special events or public space activation programming can only account for up to 10% or $5,000 of total grant amount.  
   

Ineligible Grant Uses: 

• Engineering and architectural plans or fees 
• Staff salaries (beyond initial construction/​rehabilitation/​installation labor) 
• Operational and maintenance expenses 
• Reimbursement for projects that are already completed 
• Pass-through funding to private entities or initiatives
   

TIMELINE
 

• Applications Open on July 1, 2025 
• Applications Close on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT 
• Grant Recipients Notified by late November 2025 
• Grant Funds Disbursed to Selected Recipients by December 1, 2025 
• Project Implementation Period: December 1, 2025 – November 30, 2026 
• Final Grant Reports Due December 12, 2026

With the generous support of U.S. Bank, the National Main Street Center's education and professional development program, the Main Street America Academy, is offering a tailored learning opportunity to Main Street managers and community revitalization professionals from our nationwide network. U.S. Bank and the Main Street America Academy are offering a specialized online course, Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street, designed to help you achieve economic vitality goals in your community through a focus on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, or a strong community support network for business owners. 

Scholarship Opportunity:  

About & Eligibility: As part of U.S. Bank's sponsorship, a limited number of scholarships (20 total) providing registration at a reduced rate of $100 are available to participants serving communities located within U.S. Bank markets. Communities must be located within 20 miles of a U.S. Bank location to be considered, with special priority given to participants serving districts located in the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin. 

Application & Awards: Scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants will receive determinations by Friday, August 29, 2025. Scholarship recipients will receive a discount code to use at registration. Eligible and interested participants are encouraged to submit scholarship applications as soon as possible and before registering for the course. The application will close on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CDT, or when all scholarships have been awarded.  

Supporting Small Businesses on Main Street: Live sessions held Thursdays, September 4, 11, and 18 from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, CDT.

Generously sponsored by U.S. Bank, this three-week live, online course will prepare participants to uplift small businesses in their communities. Identifying place-based assets and resources for small businesses, participants will better understand how to collaboratively build a strong community support network that centers economic vitality. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Assess Current Business Conditions
  Participants will interpret key findings from the Spring 2025 Small Business Profiles Survey to pinpoint the most urgent pressures facing local small businesses. 
• Evaluate and Refine Main Street Support
  Through facilitated panels with small business owners and technical‑assistance providers, participants will categorize common challenges (e.g., rising costs, decreased foot traffic, cash‑flow gaps) and map them to appropriate Main Street support services.  
• Design and Deploy Responsive Support Strategies
  Drawing on case studies and lessons learned toolkits, participants will develop at least two concrete, evidence‑based action plans—such as targeted marketing campaigns, cost‑management workshops, or peer‑mentorship cohorts—that their Main Street organizations can implement immediately to bolster small‑business resilience 

This course is led by Main Street America's Director of Education, Tasha Sams, and features instruction from Main Street America staff, including: 

Gustavo Ustariz, Director Entrepreneur and Small Business Support 

Joi Cuartero Austin, Senior Program Officer, Economic Vitality 

...and others to be announced soon!

Additionally, as part of the 2025 SSBOMS, MSA is proud to be joined by small business owners from around the nation to connect this virtual experience with real small business owners. Stay tuned as we’ll be announcing their names, small businesses, and locations soon!

 FAQ 

Why should I participate in this course? 

If Economic Vitality is on your mind, this is the Main Street course for you. This specialized learning experience, supported by U.S. Bank, will give you new insights, tools, and strategies to foster entrepreneurship, support small business owners, and retain local businesses. Without small businesses, Main Streets don't exist. After the course, Academy staff will stay in contact to assist with any further professional development needs.     

What is the cost of the course if I don't receive a scholarship? The member price for this course without a U.S. Bank funded scholarship would be $275.00.  The non-member price is $350.